RHS Band to perform with Liverpool LegendsThe Russellville High School (RHS) band will perform back-up for the Liverpool Legends during the group's April 1 concert at The Center for the Arts. Marty Scott, who portrays George Harrison in the band, said the audience will be surprised. "This is not a high school production," he said. "It's a Broadway-quality show being backed by the students from the high school." Liverpool Legends is a tribute band to The Beatles. The group, which was f...

ALE works toward therapy dogDOVER — The Dover School District's Alternative Learning Environment (ALE) program is gathering information and sponsors to move forward to obtain a therapy dog. ALE students, led by Alex Flores, gave the school board a presentation of their research during Thursday's board meeting. "They deserve to have this," Deborah Starr, ALE instructor, said. "They have worked so hard." The board expressed its unanimous support of the idea, but took no ac...

Woman pleads guilty to faking nurse credentials LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A woman accused of posing as a nurse while working at a Searcy elementary school pleaded guilty Wednesday to federal charges that could land her in prison for more than 20 years, though the government asked the judge to limit her prison time. Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander Morgan and the defense asked U.S. District Judge Brian Miller to sentence Susan Elaine Boyce, 57, to the longest probation allowed but on the low end o...

Dover told to address deficienciesDOVER — Superintendent Jerry Owens and Board President Michael Robbins met Tuesday with the Arkansas Department of Education’s (ADE) Division of Public School Academic Facilities to discuss the possibility of conducting a third and final election on a millage increase to fund renovations and construction at the middle school. ADE officials told Owens and Robbins the district must address deficiencies in the middle school, and especially the mi...

Committee prioritizes summer projectsThe Russellville Board of Education Building and Grounds Committee prioritized summer projects and discussed district roofing needs during its regular meeting Friday. Chris Campbell, maintenance foreman, said roofing projects at Oakland Heights Elementary, London Elementary, Russellville High School and the Arkansas Tech University Career Center at the high school need to be addressed this summer. He said roofing projects at Sequoyah Elementar...

32 apply for UA lobbyist position, including Darr LITTLE ROCK — More than 30 people have applied for a position as a lobbyist for the University of Arkansas, a job designed to influence policy to benefit the school's flagship campus in Fayetteville. Many of the 32 people who applied are associated with government, including former Lt. Gov. Mark Darr, who resigned on Feb. 1 after being fined $11,000 for ethics violations. State Sen. Johnny Key, R-Mountain Home, is among the applicants, as is f...

Pottsville extends contractsPOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville Board of Education approved extending the contracts for the superintendent and administrative staff during its regular meeting Thursday. The board approved extending Superintendent Larry Dugger's contract through the 2016-17 school year. "I'm excited to be able to continue working in the district," Dugger said. "It's a great place to work. The students and staff are so supportive, and the board allows us to do our j...

Dover extends contracts for administratorsDOVER — The Dover Board of Education approved extending contracts for all the district’s principals and assistant principals during its regular meeting Thursday. The contracts were extended through June 30, 2015, for principals Jo Lynn Taverner, Danny Forehand and Josh Daniels and assistant principals Mike McCarley and Sonya Baker. “I want to recognize and thank each of them for the excellent work they do,” Superintendent Jerry Owens said. Owe...

UCA board bans e-cigarettes on campus, in vehicles CONWAY (AP) — The University of Central Arkansas' Board of Trustees has banned the use of electronic cigarettes on the university's campus and in university-owned vehicles. The Log Cabin Democrat reported the board voted unanimously Friday to update its policy that bans the use of any tobacco products to include the electronic cigarettes — which emit a water vapor containing nicotine. The new policy was recommended by a committee formed last f...

Clarksville completes second safe roomCLARKSVILLE — Assistant Superintendent Toby Cook gave the Clarksville Board of Education a tour of the newly completed safe room during its regular meeting Monday. Construction of the safe room, which is located on the primary school campus, was completed earlier this month. This second safe room — the first is located at Pyron Elementary School and serves elementary, middle school and junior high students — will serve primary school students ...

RJHS gym to get HVACThe Russellville Junior High School (RJHS) main and auxiliary gymnasiums will have a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) unit installed over summer break. "It's a new install that is desperately needed," Nathan Barber, district business manager, said. The Russellville Board of Education voted 5-0 Tuesday to approve accepting a low bid — not to exceed $375,000 — for the project. Board member Margie Smith said she was excited to see...

Western Yell sees improvementHAVANA — The Western Yell County School District has made progress since being placed on the fiscal distress list nearly two years ago. Superintendent Leona Cleveland said she has worked closely with the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) to correct all criteria that landed the district on the list. "We're feeling very good about this year," Cleveland said. "We believe we can sustain [the progress]." She said she expects the district to be...

RHS thespians prepare sweet performanceThe Russellville High School (RHS) Thespian Troupe is preparing for a special Showcase and Dessert Theatre at the Center for the Arts on March 3 and 4. The performances will begin at 7 p.m. both days and $10 tickets include homemade desserts and a choice of coffee, tea or hot chocolate. The event will showcase the students' acting, singing and dancing abilities. All of the performers competed at the State Thespian Festival and earned an excell...

Dardanelle approves intermediate school remodelDARDANELLE — The Dardanelle Board of Education approved accepting bids for a remodel of the intermediate school at a special meeting last Thursday. The remodel has an estimated price tag between $392,000 and $402,000. “It is one of the legs of our reconfiguration of grades next year,” Superintendent John Thompson said. “It’s a relatively small project — one wing of the intermediate school.” The district is comprised of four schools — the new p...

Hector hires financial consultantHECTOR — The Hector Board of Education, at a special meeting Monday evening, approved hiring a financial consultant to help the district avoid being placed in the fiscal distress program. The district hired Norman Hill of Enterprises LLC Educational Consultant Services to help it through its financial woes after it was placed on a fiscal distress watch list earlier this month. Hill told the board he has worked with 10 schools in fiscal distres...

Single Parent Scholarship Fund recognizedMembers of the Single Parent Scholarship Fund of Pope-Yell County were recently recognized for their fundraising efforts at the Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund Leadership Conference in Little Rock. Ruthanne Hill, ASPSF State Director, presented the award in recognition of the board’s achievement in fundraising for funds raised through its event, a shrimp and catfish dinner, held each year in July. Sabra Bartlett, PYCSPSF Executive Dire...

Dover’s next moveDOVER — The Dover Board of Education at its regular meeting Thursday will discuss its next move after voters rejected a proposed mill increase in last week’s special election. In order to conduct a third and final election on the matter, the district must get approval from the Arkansas Department of Education’s (ADE) Division of Public School Academic Facilities. In May, the district was awarded nearly $4.5 in state partnership funds for renov...

Gotcher talks snow daysThe Arkansas River Valley has experienced one of its most active winters — precipitation-wise — in recent history, causing area schools to miss days that must be made up. Many factors are used in deciding whether to close school and how to make up missed days. Atkins Superintendent Mark Gotcher said one factor in deciding whether or not to close is more important than the rest. "It's always about student safety," he said. When inclement weathe...

PJHS Quiz Bowl wins region, heads to statePOTTSVILLE — The Pottsville Junior High School (PJHS) Quiz Bowl team is preparing to compete in the state tournament after winning the regional tournament. The group will compete against 19 other teams in the junior high level at the State Quiz Bowl Tournament at Arkadelphia High School on Feb. 22. Teams from seven area schools competed in the round-robin style regional tournament at Dover High School. The top two teams from each region will m...